HomeCaliforniaAnaheim › Santa Ana Mountains Trail Head

Santa Ana Mountains Trail Head

4.8 ★★★★★ 46 Google reviews · Running trail in Anaheim, California · Hours vary

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Not reported

We have not been able to confirm the surface, distance or shape of Santa Ana Mountains Trail Head yet from its own listing, the park's website or runner reviews — so those cells stay blank rather than guess. What is below comes straight from the listing and from reviewers' own words. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

ScenicDog-friendlyHillyRestroomsTrailhead parking

Hiking area with scenic views that's suitable for children and mountain bikers.

What runners say about Santa Ana Mountains Trail Head

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (46 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 8 mentions

“Great views the entrance is next to the school and there is a gravel walkway up to the vantage point on top of the hill”

Great hiking with dog. Watch out for bikers coming downhills. No shade. Bring plenty water. Only restroom is, near the Elementary School so go before heading up to the trails.

★★★★★ — Dip , Nov 2018

Nice hiking area, great views of Orange County, lots more there to hike then I expected!

★★★★★ — Bryan , Feb 2017

Great views the entrance is next to the school and there is a gravel walkway up to the vantage point on top of the hill

★★★★★ — Thomas , Jul 2016

Good steep trails. Parking is free at the Elementary but only during non business hours.

★★★★★ — Jules , Nov 2018

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 46 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 13 mentions

“Great views the entrance is next to the school and there is a gravel walkway up to the vantage point on top of the hill”

More trails like this →

⛰️ Hills / elevation 10 mentions

“Great views the entrance is next to the school and there is a gravel walkway up to the vantage point on top of the hill”

More trails like this →

🅿️ Trailhead parking 4 mentions

“It was during school hours, so had to park at the Fred Barrera Park one intersection away, then walk to the Santa Ana Mountains trailhead.”

More trails like this →

🐕 Dog-friendly 4 mentions

“Dogs are allowed on these trails but must be on leash at all times.”

More trails like this →

🚻 Restrooms 2 mentions

“Only restroom is, near the Elementary School so go before heading up to the trails.”

More trails like this →

Plan your run at Santa Ana Mountains Trail Head

The practical stuff

  • AccessHours vary — hours are not posted for this trail, so check before an early or late run
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.

Where to find Santa Ana Mountains Trail Head

Anaheim, California

Get directions

Running trails near Anaheim

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Santiago Oaks Regional Park - Avenida de Santiago Trail Head

4.8 ★★★★★ 16 reviews

Anaheim, CA

Natural surface

under a mile away

Oak Canyon Nature Center

4.7 ★★★★★ 1,378 reviews

Anaheim, CA

ShadedScenic

Nature park featuring oak forests, scrubland & canyons, plus wildlife & an interpretive center.

under a mile away

Barham Ridge Trail Peak

4.8 ★★★★★ 6 reviews

Orange, CA

under a mile away

Anaheim Hills Riding and Walking Trail

4.6 ★★★★★ 163 reviews

Anaheim, CA

2.5 miLoopScenic

Hiking area with trails that offer views and wildflowers.

under a mile away

Walnut Canyon Reservoir

4.8 ★★★★★ 114 reviews

Anaheim, CA

1.7 miLoopMixedScenic

Clean reservoir ringed by a 1.7-mile trail with benches, popular for jogging, biking and sightseeing.

1.0 miles away

1.0 miles away

All running trails in Anaheim, CA →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.